Otjiwarongo is one of the largest towns in Namibia, situated in central-north Namibia, lying on the Trans-Namib Railway. The name means "Pleasant Place" or "Place Where Fat Cattle Graze" in the native languages. It is the biggest business center for Otjozondjupa region. It is located at a crossroads for the railway and for the B1 road and its links between Windhoek, the Golden Triangle of Otavi, Tsumeb and Grootfontein, and Etosha National Park.

The main interest for tourists is Otjiwarongo's proximity to the Waterberg Plateau Park. Namibia is the "Cheetah Capital of the World," and Otjiwarongo is home to the Cheetah Conservation Fund, an internationally-recognized organization dedicated to ensuring the long-term survival of the cheetah through research, conservation and education. Also about 50 miles from Otjiwarongo is Okonjima, the home of the Africat Foundation. On the edge of town is the Crocodile Ranch, one of the few captive breeding programs for the Nile Crocodile that has been registered with CITES. The ranch exports the skins, but sells the meat locally. Also in town is Locomotive No 41, originally brought from Germany to haul ore between Tsumeb and the port at Swakopmund.

It is home to 20 percent of the world's cheetahs, mostly on private ranch land.